CalArts (California Institute of the Arts)

California Institute of the Arts educates professional artists in a unique learning environment founded on the principles of artmaking excellence, experimentation, critical reflection and independent inquiry. Throughout its history, CalArts has sought to advance the practice of art and promote its understanding in a broad social, cultural and historical context. CalArts offers students the knowledge and expertise of leading professional artists and scholars and a full complement of artmaking tools. In return, it asks for the highest artistic and academic achievement. Reflecting its longstanding commitment to new forms and expressions in art, CalArts invites creative risk-taking and urges active collaboration and exchange among artists, artistic disciplines and cultural traditions.

Degrees & Programs

The Institute offers programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and undergraduate and advanced certificates.

Film & Video

Art

Music

Theater

Dance

Critical Studies

Admissions

Registration information for the fall semester is mailed on or about August 1 to returning students and those new students who have paid a nonrefundable $500 admission deposit to be applied toward tuition. Registration information for the spring semester is mailed on or about December 1.

Much of the registration process may be completed by mail during the specified pre-registration period. Students finish the process by signing up for classes on campus during the two weekdays immediately preceding the start of the semester.

Student Life

The Housing Office is located within Chouinard Hall, room 101. You may contact us by calling 661.253.7897, or e-mail us at oncampushousing@calarts.edu. The housing staff is available year round (excluding Institute holidays). The Housing Office offers many services to the residents, including: room assignments, room switches, dealing with student conflict/security or complaints. We also offer help with personal issues, van trips to local stores, banks or a day trip here or there!

The Housing facilities consist of two buildings on campus, Chouinard and Ahmanson Halls. On-campus housing offers easy access to the academic building, where the majority of classrooms, studios, art galleries, rehearsal and performance spaces are located. Each room is fully furnished and is equipped with a telephone jack, satellite cable and network on line connections. The resident halls have laundry facilities, a swimming pool and sauna.

Our residence halls accommodate 450 students. With an average enrollment of 1,200 students, spaces fill up quickly and our occupancy begins at 100%. A priority list is included with your housing package. Upon receipt of your acceptance letter from the Admissions Office, please call the Housing Office directly for information.

We begin mailing applications to new students May 1. All applications are processed on a first come first serve basis. In order to be considered for on-campus housing, applications must be filled out completely and include the deposit. Submitting an incomplete application will seriously jeopardize your chance of receiving housing, as your paperwork will not be processed.